ATR First: Russian Rapprochement in Lausanne - Top Story Replay

(ATR) The new Russian Olympic Committee president moves quickly to build relationships with the IOC and Olympic Movement.

Just a week after his election as the new president of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov is in Lausanne for a two day visit.

The ROC was suspended by the IOC last December over complications of the doping scandal that has shaken Russian sport. The IOC lifted its suspension of Russia right after the 2018 Winter Olympics, but the World Anti-Doping Agency says the Russian anti-doping program does not comply with international standards.

Pozdnyakov will finalize a new cooperation agreement with the IOC during his visit to Switzerland.

As a prelude, Pozdnyakov will meet Tuesday with Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, chairman IOC Olympic Solidarity Commission. Later he will have a working meeting with a team from the IOC Olympic Solidarity department and director Pere Miró.

The agreement, covering aid from Russia to other NOCs, as well as expertise the IOC can offer Russia, isexpected to be signed in Moscow, just before the open of the World Cup June 14.

Sheikh Ahmad is expected to be on hand for that signing on behalf of the IOC. Ahmad is the IOC member in Kuwait and is president of the Association of National Olympic Committees.

Pozdnyakov, 44, will not meet with IOC President Thomas Bach on this visit, as Bach is travelling in China. The two are fellow gold medalists in fencing. Pozdnyakov has four gold medals and was a ten-time world champion.

Three days before his trip to Lausanne, Pozdnyakov organized a forum with the athletes who will represent Russia at the Youth Olympic Games next October in Buenos Aires.

The main objective of the meeting was to "raise awareness" of the athletes with the principles of "fair play" and the fight against doping.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and two experts from the World Anti-Doping Agency. Their presence at meeting apparently caught the attention of the IOC.

"The new ROC President has said that he will become a standard bearer in the fight against doping," an official with the IOC confides to Around the Rings.

Reported by Miguel Hernandez.